A Composition in Murder Book Tour
A Cherry Tucker Mystery Book 6
By author Larissa Reinhart
Tour Dates: November 15th – 21st, 2016
Blurb:
With a new art teaching gig at Halo House—Halo, Georgia’s posh independent living home—and Halo society scrutinizing her family and her love life, Cherry Tucker needs to stay out of trouble. However, her sleuthing skills are sought by Halo House’s most famous resident: Belvia Brakeman, the ninety-year-old, blind CEO and founder of Meemaw’s Tea. Belvia confides in Cherry that the family tea empire is in jeopardy. The CEO suspects her daughter, the COO, has been murdered and she might be next. Her offer is hard to refuse, but will have Cherry treading on Forks County Sheriff toes, namely her personal Deputy Heartache, Luke Harper.
Amid her town troubles, can Cherry put her reputation, romance, and life on the line for the final request of a sweet tea tycoon? While she juggles senior citizen shenanigans, small town politics, and corporate family scandals, Cherry finds the sweet tea business cutthroat in more ways than one.
Guest Post:
Writing Upside Down: An American Author in Japan
My family moved to Nagoya, Japan, last year. (You can see us on House Hunters International in the episode called “Living for the Weekend in Nagoya, Japan.) This wasn’t our first rodeo. My husband and I have lived in Japan four times, the children twice. Hubby’s fluent in Japanese and has worked for Japanese companies his entire career.
Six years ago, I had started my first serious endeavor with writing the last time we lived in Nagoya. The first draft of my first Cherry Tucker book, Portrait of a Dead Guy, returned to the US with me. I’d also began social media during that time as a means to keep up with friends and family while we lived overseas. I still think of social media as a communications, not a marketing, tool.
Now I’ve returned to Japan as a published author and realize the complexity of writing mainly for a North American audience on the opposite side of the world. Have computer and internet, will travel, I thought. Mornings and evenings are flip-flopped so connecting with readers on social media shouldn’t change. In this day and age, virtual friendships are easy. I do practically everything on-line from emailing my manuscripts to editors to ordering book swag. I’d even done book clubs by Skype!
But in reality, I feel like I miss a lot. I loved doing reader events, like book luncheons and conferences. I miss the intimacy of meeting and talking to people face-to-face, even if it was only once every few months. I can connect on social media, but at night when I’m free, folks at home are at work, and vice versa. I have fewer readers here, mainly because my books are written in English and they’re too hard for most Japanese people to read. And there’s not a big network for English readers and writers (that I’ve found), like I had at home. I miss my local writing groups, like the awesome Georgia Romance Writers and Atlanta SinC!
But there are fun things about being an author in Japan. It’s an icebreaker, for sure, on social media. I can share everyday things I encounter in Japan and they’re interesting to people who aren’t familiar with the culture. And I can use fun Japanese items or candy to send to my street team and readers in contests. A Crunky chocolate bar is more exciting than a regular ol’ Crunch bar. And green tea KitKats? I have a reader-friend who begs me to send them.
I do fewer author events here, but I’ve met such interesting people from all over the world. Asians, of course, but also Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, South and Central Americans, and Africans. Japan is very homogeneous, but when you’re an expat, you connect with other expats easily. From my Japanese friends, I’ve learned a lot about Japanese reading habits and feel called to write for a broader audience so my Japanese friends can read my stories.
And I’m constantly inspired by my surroundings. That happens anywhere, but there something about being a foreigner in a foreign land—a real fish out of water—that causes you to look at things differently.
Q L. Reinhart to all bloggers: Do you have an interest in foreign settings or do you prefer books written about your own culture, whether it be a region or country? Have you ever experienced living in a foreign culture or new area that gave you a “fish out of water” perspective?
Buy the Book:
About the Author:
Bio:
A 2015 Georgia Author of the Year Best Mystery finalist, Larissa writes the Cherry Tucker Mystery series. The first in the series, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (2012), is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. The sixth mystery, A COMPOSITION IN MURDER, is expected to release November 15, 2016. Her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, now live in Nagoya, Japan, but still calls Georgia home. Visit her website, LarissaReinhart.com, find her chatting on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads, or join her Facebook street team, The Mystery Minions.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon
Check out all the Tour Stops:
November 15th
Steamy Book Momma – Book Promo Post
Imaginary Book Club – Book Review
Hello…Chick Lit – Book Excerpt Post
November 16th
EmmaTheLittleBookworm – Author Guest Post
Writing Pearls – Book Review
Judging More Than Just The Cover – Author Q&A
November 17th
Novelgossip – Author Q&A
The Belgian Reviewer – Author Guest Post
November 18th
Jena Books – Book Review/Excerpt
November 19th
Corinne’s Garden – Book Excerpt/Promo Post
November 20th
Live Laugh and Love Books – Book Review
November 21st
Book Lover in Florida – Book Excerpt Post
Turning Another Page – Book Review/Excerpt
Tour Arranged by:
Thanks so much for having me on your blog today!
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My pleasure!😀
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What an interesting post! I have so many friends and connections around the world, but I have never stopped to think about what it must be like for those who live abroad but target a US based audience. I can see how it might feel a bit disconnected with time frames and all.
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Hi B, V, & Tea,
Thanks for commenting! Yes, it’s a bit of a challenge. If you’re an early morning person or a night owl, that works best! <3!
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I am usually up at 3am, but not by choice 😉
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LOL You’re all set to live in this time zone, then!
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This night owl has often wondered how well those of other regions connect with the southern cozies that I love but I had never considered the ramifications for other nations and cultures. Wow. I know great characters cross most barriers but there are southernism that are pretty unique. I find that in my later years I have narrowed my reading boundaries. Part of that is issues with anxiety but I am not sure why I read fewer books placed in other countries. Maybe I need to reevaluate my reading habits. One should be expanding in later years and not just my waist (etc.!)
A Composition in Murder is a wonderful book with characters that should reach a wide audience.
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Having lived in Japan, I admit it forced me to really look at everything surrounding me in a different way. I also learned a lot about being a foreigner in a foreign land! I remember feeling frustrated a lot because of the time differences, not being able to share things with my friends and family because of it. It must be a real challenge to connect with your audience but surely gives success in doing so a sweet taste! Those green tea KitKat, how I miss them! What an interesting post!
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Thanks Donna! When I read this guest post I immediately thought of you (I don’t know anyone else either with a Japanese connection) and I thought you could relate to this. You’re making me very curious now though about that green tea KitKat. I can’t believe they keep it for themselves over there 😉
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